Caring For Tropical Fish

Rainbows, clowns, spots, and stripes; a tank full of tropical fish can add a menagerie of color to any home. Keeping and caring for a tank of tropical fish require a little bit of extra attention. Fish enthusiasts who are considering building an aquatic community of tropical fish need to be aware of the specific equipment and care that these fish require.

The H2O factor

Water quality is undoubtedly the most important aspect of keeping your tropical fish alive and thriving. Keeping the water in the tank at the appropriate temperature and pH levels is crucial to the health of your fish. Avoid adjusting the water temperature abruptly. This could send your finned friends into shock because tropical fish have narrow optimum temperature ranges and do not usually tolerate sudden changes in environment.

Fish food

A good diet for tropical fish has 30 to 36 percent protein, 10 percent fat, and low amount of carbohydrates. As far as the amount to feed them, this could vary by species. A general formula is to feed 10g of flake food to 50 adult tropical or freshwater fish.

Be careful with overfeeding because this can result in poor water quality as the excess food will be floating around in the tank. Keep food stored in moisture resistant containers and in a cool dry area. Never allow your fish food to sit frozen for longer than three months.

Lights, air, action

Airflow inside your tropical fish tank should be regulated at a rate of two liters per hour, per liter of water. Use an aerator in your tank to control airflow. You will want to make sure that you install proper lighting in your aquarium. This will help to avoid heat accumulation and excess algae growth. Only use lights that are recommended for aquarium use.

Another thing to keep in consideration are the lights in your home. A good idea is to install a dimmer device in the room that the tank is in. This will help you to avoid startling the fish when you turn on the lights in the room.

Keeping it stable

Use a home water-quality testing kit to measure the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia levels, nitrate levels and salinity of water.

For more information on tropical fish, starting a fish tank in your home, or questions and concerns about tropical fish care and health, visit your local Boston vet clinics at www.bostonveterinarianclinics.com today.

Joseph Devine